Child Support Attorneys

Private firms, attorneys, and courts authorized under state law to issue IWOs must use the OMB-approved IWO form for all child support income withholding by employers.

IWOs issued on or after 05/31/11 (i.e., new IWOs) 1. If the IWO is not directed to the SDU as required by federal law [section 454B of the Act] then the employer should reject the IWO and return it to the sender, effective immediately.2. If the employer receives a document to withhold income that is not issued on the OMB-approved IWO form as required by federal law (section 466(a)(8) and 466(b)(6)(A)(ii) of the Act) then the employer must reject the document and return it to the sender, effective 05/31/12.

IWOs issued before 05/31/11 (i.e., IWOs already processed by employer)1. If the IWO is not directed to the SDU as required by federal law (section 454B of the Act) then the employer should contact the state child support enforcement (CSE) agency in the state that issued the underlying support order on a case-by-case basis to request a revised IWO directing payment to the SDU. The state may use procedures under section 466(c)(1)(E) of the Act, upon providing notice to the obligor and obligee, to direct the obligor or other payor to change the payment destination to the SDU. The employer should continue to send payments to the non-SDU address until the state CSE agency or sender issues a revised IWO directing payment to the SDU.2. If income withholding is not issued on the OMB-approved IWO form as required by federal law (section 466(a)(8) and 466(b)(6)(A)(ii) of the Act) and the order presents a problem for the employer (i.e., insufficient information to process the IWO) or the order has been modified, then the employer should contact the sender to request an OMB-approved IWO form. The employer should continue withholding income until a new OMB-approved IWO form is received.